Covid-19 Guidance

We understand that businesses are facing challenging times and the following Fire Safety advice is designed to ensure your premises and all persons who may use it are as safe as possible from the effects of fire.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal requirement upon Responsible Persons to ensure all relevant people on or in the vicinity of their premises are safe from fire.  These responsibilities and safety measures are designed to protect life regardless of Fire and Rescue Service intervention.

The Responsible Persons should ensure that the fire risk assessment for the premises is regularly reviewed throughout the COVID-19 health emergency to take account of any additional risks that may occur.  For example, where staff shortages may affect any pre-planned evacuation strategy or where stock and waste has increased and needs to be managed.

Fire Safety Officers are no longer carrying out routine visits but will be following up complaints, fires and other urgent life safety work.  All our Fire Safety Officers will be provided with the correct personal protective equipment if they are required to attend.

Our Business Fire Safety Team will continue to fulfil their statutory roles as regulators for non-domestic premises. However, activities will be refined to prioritise the greatest potential risks and some visits may be replaced by telephone contact.